Ruislip Station shortlisted for step-free access following RRA campaign

We are delighted to announce a significant breakthrough in our long-running campaign for better accessibility at Ruislip Station. Transport for London (TfL) has officially confirmed that Ruislip is one of 17 stations across London shortlisted to proceed to a full feasibility study for step-free access.

This fantastic news was formally communicated in a letter from the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, to the Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ian Edwards, on 29th September 2025. The letter confirmed that from an initial long list of 30 stations, both Ruislip and Hatton Cross in Hillingdon were selected to move forward. Unfortunately, Ruislip Manor, South Ruislip, and Northwood Hills were not selected at this time.

A Result of Persistent Campaigning

This achievement follows RRA’s persistent and proactive lobbying. While the council has previously expressed a general desire for step-free access across the borough, the RRA has been actively making the specific case for Ruislip station with key decision-makers.

Our GLA member, Bassam Mahfouz, has been instrumental in supporting our campaign, providing the RRA with the official confirmation letter. It was also Mr Mahfouz who, at a community meeting on 26th September, arranged for RRA Vice-Chair Graeme Shaw to speak directly with Seb Dance, the Deputy Mayor for London Transport. This allowed us to lobby effectively, highlighting the compelling arguments for Ruislip. It was following this engagement that we learned Ruislip had progressed to the shorter list of 17 stations.

We asked ‘Could Ruislip Station be made step-free?’ on the front cover of the Spring 2025 issue of the Town Crier magazine

“Making more Tube stations step-free is a major part of our work to make the transport network more accessible. More than a third of Underground stations feature step-free access and we’re working towards the Mayor of London’s ambitious target for 50 per cent of the Tube network to be step-free by 2030.”
– Alex Williams, TfL’s chief customer and strategy officer

Why Ruislip? Overcoming the Numbers

While Ruislip’s annual passenger numbers of 1.5 million are the lowest among the 17 shortlisted stations, our campaign argues that numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. The selection criteria used by TfL also include network coverage, regeneration opportunities, and the potential for third-party funding.

Our case to TfL has been built on two key points:

• A Major Transport Hub: Ruislip station is the largest transport interchange in the north of the borough, served by eight bus routes (soon to be nine, given that Ruislip will have a night bus service to/from Central London from January 2026). Step-free access here would unlock travel for countless residents who rely on connecting services.
• A Unique Funding Opportunity: The adjacent Barn Hotel development presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The project is expected to generate a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contribution of around £735,000. We are strongly advocating that this funding be allocated to the step-free access project, aligning perfectly with TfL’s preference for schemes with third-party contributions.The entrance to Ruislip station and the London-bound platforms are in the Ruislip ward, but the Uxbridge-bound platform and the Barn Hotel development itself are in the Ruislip Manor ward, making this a project that benefits the wider community.

“While TfL can fund the feasibility studies at the 17 stations selected, the subsequent development and delivery of schemes will be dependent on TfL’s future funding position. Deliverable schemes will be prioritised where significant third-party funding is available.”
– Sir Sadiq Khan’s letter to Cllr Ian Edwards – which reinforces the importance of finding funding like that from the Barn Hotel redevelopment to contribute towards the costs

The Next Steps: The Campaign Continues

Being shortlisted is a crucial step, but it is not a guarantee of delivery. The feasibility study will now assess the practicalities, costs, and value for money of installing lifts. Securing the final funding is the next major hurdle.

Local councillors have also voiced their support. Cllr Susan O’Brien, a Ruislip Manor ward councillor and Cabinet Member at Hillingdon Council told the RRA “I will be delighted if we get step free access, and so will all of our councillors. Delighted!”

To keep up the momentum, the RRA will be writing to all three Members of Parliament for Hillingdon—Danny Beales MP, David Simmonds MP, and John McDonnell MP – as well as our GLA representative Bassam Mahfouz. We will ask them to publicly back the schemes for both Ruislip and Hatton Cross and to help identify and secure potential central government funding sources to support TfL’s investment.

We believe that by working together, we can ensure this vital project crosses the finish line. We thank all our members for their continued support.

Join us – give us your suggestions, feedback and experiences